Hypnobirthing Review

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On Tuesday my advanced student midwife, Janna, hosted Jason and me in her home for a Hypnobirthing review and "fear release" meditation. She is, conveniently enough, also a Hypnobirthing practitioner. We reviewed my breathing techniques and the light touch massage that is oh-so relaxing.

For maybe a week or more, I have been practicing my Rainbow Relaxation script on the CD every night before I fall asleep. Some nights I am unconscious through most of the colors and regain consciousness as the script is ending! :-)

In the past several days, I've experienced a couple of nights of a few productive surges (contractions) that wake me up. No other major labor signs so far, so I guess my body is just "practicing" and strengthening my uterus! I'm hopeful that I will be able to continue getting decent rest... Fingers crossed.

Photo: "Open"

I love this description of this photo of a Hypnobirthing mom on the Navelgazing Midwife blog. =)

37w 2d - "Last" Last HypnoBirthing® Class

Since our last hypnobirthing class was so disjointed with our classmate walking in with her baby and telling their incredibly inspiring story, Kate, our instructor, invited me and J back to her last class tonight of her current class of 2 more couples. We definitely got some more information about birth and the first couple of weeks of parenthood that I found very helpful. I talked to her also about the deeper anesthesia relaxation that I just can't quite seem to get a handle on, and she gave us some other suggestions to try to get that numbing technique to work for me. It could be that my mental block is too great and it just isn't going to work. I will keep trying but not stress over it too much.

30w 5d – Hospital BirthPlace Tour

We got the tour over with and I practiced some of my relaxation breathing in the waiting room. I’ve heard many women say that all the relaxation breathing in the world couldn’t help them through the pains of labor. I’m really hoping HypnoBirthing techniques come through for me! I trust that it definitely has the potential to, and that I am capable of experiencing a gentle, natural birth. Whew, I guess I needed to get out some of those affirmations!

Back to the tour. We saw the regular and special care nurseries, as well as an L&D room and a postpartum room. Oh, and the nurse leading the tour showed us *those doors* we would go through should we encounter the need for a cesarean section. Jason asked if he could go back, and the nurse explained that yes, under most circumstances, unless it is a quick emergency.

The L&D room stunk like feces! It was horrible. Luckily all the rooms weren’t like that. Maybe it hadn’t been fully cleaned yet. There had just been several discharges. Anyway we saw the Jacuzzi-tub, bench the birth companion (Jason) would be able sleep on, and different cribs the babies would sleep in. I asked also to see a birth ball and birthing stool. I gave the stool a try and it was quite comfortable. I’ll be able to imagine myself using it in my birthing imagery.

At the end we saw a newborn through the nursery glass getting his first bath. It seemed a little sad that the proud papa was outside the glass with us, just watching. Nobody else was in the nursery so I suppose he could have asked to be there. Maybe he didn’t think to ask. The nurse sure seemed awfully rough with his bath! He was all red from crying so hard aww.

29w 5d - Last Hypnobirthing Class

Today we finished our 5th and final hypnobirthing class. Of the 3 couples, 1 of the couples still hadn't shown by 15 minutes after our start time. The instructor called them at home and she said that the mother-to-be sounded "odd," but that they were coming and to start without them. Fifteen minutes later we were getting settled for class and they walked in with their baby! Mateo was born about 3 weeks "early"--on our anniversary, the 25th, at 6 lb 14 oz. Isn't God great??

A. used many of the vizualization techniques she had learned in class and never requested medical pain relief--even with Pitocin! She felt pressured to start the Pit due to the time when her membranes had ruptured. (Of course, in other countries where the childbirth "practice" seems to be leaps ahead, they allow a mom to labor for 2-3 days after her water breaks before worrying too much about infection. But anyway, that's another post!) Long story short, she ended up with a sort of homebirth in the hospital! She had labored a good bit in the tub/jaccuzzi and was alone (with her husband half asleep sitting on the floor) in the tub when she felt their son ready to arrive! She trusted her instincts and gave birth right there, half kneeling and half standing in the tub. It was such a beautiful and inspiring story, especially since she didn't even finish our course! It was truly a surprise to see them walk in with their beautiful baby Mateo. Congratulations A. & B.!

In our actual class after A., B., & Mateo left, we covered the final stage techniques, other birthing positions, more in depth birth companion instruction, and even how to use Hypnobirthing if you must have interventions such as Pitocin! A. and B. practically taught our class this evening!

I have only great things to say about the course and our instructor. Please contact me if you have questions about HypnoBirthing or Hypnobabies. Now I just need to get back to a regular practice schedule!!

26w 6d - HypnoBirthing® Class Update

We have already had 3 classes! Only 2 more left. We have 2 other couples in our class who are due around mid-November, so we've had to "crunch" several classes together. That's OK--it just gives us more time to practice our relaxation, visualization, and deepening techniques!

Our class focuses on the philosophy of the natural birth using the HypnoBirth® techniques. I am loving it! We've worked on releasing fears we are facing about childbirth and parenthood, because fear only results in tension, which results in pain, which results in more fear! The never ending cycle... The fear and tension result in the "fight or flight" reflex and type of adrenaline which is definitely not conducive to childbirth! If you are afraid and tense, your cervix is only going to be that much tighter to not allow the baby a relaxed, welcoming door to the world.

Then of course we are also working on relaxation techniques. Sometimes our instructor will read us scripts to help us learn to relax. So far I have come really close to falling asleep on two different occasions! I guess that's really relaxed! She said that's OK as long as I "come back" to the room when she prompts us, which indicates I subconsciously heard her and wasn't fully asleep.

There is so much more to these classes than I'm able to write about here. I'm definitely inspired and I'm closer to being empowered to have the childbirth experience I desire. If you have questions about HypnoBirthing® please do not hesitate to ask me!

HypnoBirthing® Class Outline

I found this outline of our HB class:

UNIT #1: Building A Positive Expectancy

• Introduction
• HypnoBirthing®
• Rationale for comfortable birth
• How the Uterus Works
• What's Wrong with Labor?
• How Fear Affects Labor
• Origin of Pain Concept
• Hypnosis and Deep Relaxation/Creating
• Positive Birth Outcomes
• HypnoBirthing® videos of labor & birth

UNIT #2: Falling in Love with Your Baby/Preparing Mind & Body

• HypnoBirthing® Stories - 3 and 4
• Prenatal Bonding Techniques
• Relaxation and Visualization for birthing
• Rapid and instant relaxation techniques
• Breathing techniques for birthing
• Progressive, Instant, and Deepening Techniques
• Hypnotic Relaxation and Visualizations

UNIT #3: Getting Ready to Welcome your Baby

• Looking at your estimated due date
• Making hospital, home or birthing center plans
• Preparing the Body for Birthing
• Light touch birthing massage
• Birth Stories Videos 5 and 6
• Preparing your birth preferences sheets
• When Baby is Ready
• Avoiding Artificial Induction of Labor
• Your Body Working for You And with You
• Releasing Negative Emotions, Fears and Limiting Thoughts

UNIT #4: Overview of Childbirth - A Labor of Love

• Birth Stories Video 7 and 8
• Onset of Labor--Thinning and Opening Phase
• Arriving at the Hospital
• As Labor Moves along
• Birth Companion's Role
• If Labor rests or slows
• Protecting the Natural Birthing Experience
• As Birthing advances--Nearing Completion
• Birth Rehearsal Imagery

UNIT# 5: Birthing--Breathing Love, Bringing Life

• Birthing Video
• Mother Nears Completion--thinning and opening phase ends
• Birth Explained Simply
• Breathing Baby Down
• Birth of the placenta
• Bonding with your baby
• Forest Fantasy Metaphor

Source: http://www.hypnobirthing.org

A Hypno Birth Video

Here's just 1 version of a hypno birth. (No fear, nothing too graphic here.)



Her blog is here: www.5rips.typepad.com

20w 4d - Ultrasound Yesterday

We had our first ultrasound yesterday since our 6-week viability ultrasound! It was pretty amazing, but I have to admit I am still feeling a little detached. Perhaps I will be one of those moms who takes a few weeks post-birth to really bond with her baby. We shall see! I have been mostly pretty matter-of-fact about most of this experience. Jason & I are both getting more and more excited, though.

We invited both of our mothers to attend the ultrasound. They got so excited they could barely stand it! As you can see, at the end we got a 4D real-time view, and the grandma's were giggling about the baby waving at the grandmas! I hope there might be another opportunity for an ultrasound, as I know my dad was disappointed there wasn't room for him to watch. He is so cute about it all--being "macho," not wanting to appear excited but once in a while he'll reveal it!

We all arrived early, and we were called back early. The technician has 22 years experience and was very pleasant and informative with everything she saw. All looks great! She even pointed out "Pason's" bladder growing bigger throughout the half-hour session. "Pason" measures in the 80th percentile woah! Hopefully I will not have a huge baby! She said it didn't necessarily mean that I would deliver a large one! The estimated weight is 1 lb 0 oz, but we forgot to ask the length. My due date according to the ultrasound is 1/4/08 (ovulation due date is 1/8/08). Jason is adamantly against a Christmas or New Year's baby... But alas, all beyond my/our control!

Immediately following the ultrasound we met with a third midwife in the practice, Martie Jones, who reviewed the report and confirmed that all is well. She explained more about the midwifery approach to childbirth and re-confirmed for me that their typical attitude is that all is "normal" until proven otherwise, whereas physicians are more likely to assume something is wrong before allowing the process to progress naturally and as the mother wishes. Of course, there are exceptions! She explained I would be welcomed to move about as I wish during labor (walking, different positions, jacuzzi, etc), but that they will use the technology available to only occasionally monitor the baby as needed. Sounds reasonable to me! (Forgot to ask her if I am allowed to eat, though.) I am trying to keep an open mind to be at least somewhat mentally prepared for anything, though.

I asked her about the c-section rates. She didn't know exact numbers, but approximately 30% for the hospital where I plan to deliver (RMH), and 15% for the practice.

She also mentioned that I will receive the RhoGAM shot around 28 weeks (2 months away). I am still confused on the potential harms to the baby of it. But, given all of the medical based benefits, I am leaning toward accepting it at this point.

Next up is our hypnobirthing class, taught by Kate Anderson. I'm really excited and I'm sure it will get a dialog going between me and Jason about fears and concerns we might have about the day. I'm sure the class will be one more step to help us make this feel real. We're having a baby in 4 months!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I suppose you're wondering about the gender... I'll just say that one of us found out while we were there on a piece of paper and an extra picture, as we couldn't agree to find out or not find out... Is the suspense "killing" you yet...? :-)

19w 0d - Ups & Downs

Downs

• It is still a little tough to dress for work since I'm too frugal to go out and buy more pants!
• I still don't look "totally" pregnant yet. (I think I have some people guessing!)
• Headaches are still around about every week or so...
  

Ups

• I finally felt the baby moving--twice this past week!!
• We're expecting to begin our hypnobirthing classes on or around September 9. We'll have 5, 2.5-hour classes in Harrisonburg, probably with 1 other couple. I'm so excited!
  

8w 5d - Ups & Downs & Decisions

Downs

• I thought I was getting sick yesterday (slightly sore throat). I didn't set my alarm this morning and planned to come in late but I was feeling better this morning. Hopefully it is just allergies.

Ups

• Time is starting to move faster for me. I feel a little better and I'm not as worried about losing the baby. I know we're not "out of the woods" yet though.

Decision, decisions...

• I've 99% decided to use a hypnobirthing practitioner in the Harrisonburg area who teaches the classes and provides the book/CDs. I asked her for references and I spoke/emailed with 2 of her hypnobirthing moms. I'm sold! I see no drawbacks to using this technique and I see how the relaxation and meditation techniques can be used in every day life. If you'd like to learn more, check the hypnobirthing link on the right, or go here.
• I've also chosen a new practice. I believe it has 2 OBs and 3 midwives. I've heard tons of positive feedback about the practice and midwives, including from a mom of 2 boys who uses that practice. She is also a nurse at the hospital where I plan to deliver and is accustomed to working with most of the area practitioners. I'm really looking forward to the experience of working with the certified nurse midwives. I'm staying open minded though and keeping my options open in case I am not comfortable there. My first appointment there is Tuesday with the nurse educator to go over medical history and such.